RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The major party candidates for governor and leaders in the General Assembly are offering their prescriptions for improving North Carolina's business climate.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Pat McCrory told the North Carolina Chamber's annual government affairs conference in Raleigh on Tuesday that he'll treat state government more like a business that must be outward focused toward its customers.

Democratic nominee Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton said he also wants to prevent businesses owners from spending so much time dealing with regulations and inspections.

House Minority Leader Joe Hackney said underfunding public education — as he said the Republican-led Legislature did last year — is bad for business in North Carolina. House Speaker Thom Tillis said his goal is to help empower local school officials to improve the performance of school professionals.